High Court's no to book fair at Park Circus

Kolkata, Jan 28 (UNI) The Calcutta High Court today banned holding of Book Fair at Park Circus Maidan on four counts, including violation of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice S S Nijjar and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh directed that the Booksellers and Publishers' Guild can not hold the bookfair at Park Circus Maidan as it was in violation of Environmental laws, Noise Pollution laws, Constitutional Rights (Articles 14 and 21) and the KMC Act.

The court also directed the authorities concerned to restore the park in its original condition with immediate effect at the cost of the Guild.

Guild Secretary Tridib Chatterjee reacting to the verdict said, ''This is unfortunate. Now we will have to take the decision at the executive committee meeting today.'' The verdict throws the Book Fair into jeopardy as it was to be thrown open tomorrow.

In a surprise move, Chief Justice S S Nijjar himself paid a visit to Park Circus immediately after the Republic Day's parade on January 26.

His convoy made a round of the park along Orient row, Darga Road, Shurawardy Avenue before taking Syed Amir Ali Avenue for the Chief Justice's home.

The verdict came today. Earlier, Book Fair was shifted from the Maidan area as the court felt it caused environment pollution to the lungs of the city.

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